No landfill closure today

CEBU, Philippines - There will be no closure of the Inayawan Landfill today as the deadline for the cessation of all forms of dumping at the landfill is moved on November 10.

Department of Public Services chief Engr. Dionisio Gualiza said that the November 7 closure was not made possible due to time constraint.

The city government needs more time to finalize their strategies once the Inayawan landfill will be closed for all types of dumping.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama original set the total closure of the landfill today. But as of Friday, he has not signed the Cessation Order.

Among other things they have to work on is the training and orientation for all garbage truck drivers who will transport the garbage to the alternative landfill in Consolacion town.

The city is eying a private landfill in Consolacion as the diversion area for the city’s garbage. The city plans to divert 200 tons of garbage to Consolacion daily.

Gualiza said he has no knowledge if the Memorandum of Agreement between the city and the operator has been signed.

City administrator Jose Marie Poblete and Rama were not available yesterday for interview. But Gualiza confirmed that no closure will happen today.

The Solid Waste Management Board is set to meet at the house of Rama this morning to finalize things.

For the meantime, they have informed the barangays of the route to take when going to the landfill and coming back to the city.

Going to Consolacion, garbage trucks will take the Banilad-Talamban-Pit-os route while coming back to the city, trucks may either take the Casili route or the national road.

Taking the north road will depend on the truck ban that is implemented by the Mandaue City government. — (FREEMAN)